The first rule of doing anything during a job application process is “Don’t lie!” And I think we’d all agree. We all know how to lie on applications, our resumes and in interviews, and we choose not to do it because we’re not stupid. We know better than that. That being said, there are ways to lie… and you don’t realize you’re lying. The Sweaty Dude ExampleLet me demonstrate. As I was sitting at work yesterday, a guy comes in for an interview. So there he is standing in the room, in baggy jeans and an untugged short-sleeved plaid shirt. At least it was a button down. And while I wouldn’t ever recommend dressing like this for ANY interview, I suppose he was forgiven as he applied to a creative agency. So here he is, hunching his back (dude, stand up straight!) and has this goofy smile on his face. So there he is, this guy I was already pitying, completely nervous and probably sweating. And I was quietly thinking: “He’ll never get the job. I hope he doesn’t get the job because I cannot see myself working with this dude.” (Yes, maybe I am currently being a bit TOO honest!! How ironic!) So my boss gets up and they go to the conference room to have their interview. As I keep working, I try to listen, but I couldn’t hear. Well, I didn’t have to try for long because just about ten minutes later, they emerge again. Sweaty dude first (Fauxpas). My boss right behind him. As he is walking in front of her, she glances over at me with disaster written all over her face. Thank goodness, I thought, I will not have to work with him. So the dude walks out and my boss comes back to sit at the desk. What Got Him Fired Before He Was HiredShe immediately proceeds to tell me what was wrong with him. To my surprise, it wasn’t his perceived stupidity. Even though, admittedly, he didn’t seem to know very much about the job he applied for. But that’s not what didn’t get him the job! What didn’t get him the job, what was the breaking point for my boss, was that he lied about knowing more than he actually did. He pretended to have a professional background in the field, when he just kept talking about doing it very low budget for his friends. So he basically took his bit of experience to make himself look like he knew it all. And then my boss tells me that had he said he was really interested in the field and would love to learn more, she would have considered him. But he chose to lie about his background.Something to ponder about:He may have been hired for the job – even not knowing much about the field – had he only shown passion. But he lost his chance because he lied. To HIM, it was probably not lying. He never thought of what he was saying as lying. In his mind, it was probably more like trying to look good or justifying or inflating at the most. But he was perceived as lying. And then I was thinking: Well, don’t we all do that? How often have we walked out of an interview and it went great. We gave all these great examples of our work, and we pointed out all these great numbers and achievements… and we never heard from the interviewer again.What's One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's TrashHere is what we can’t forget: As much as we make up numbers/inflate numbers (no one is ever really going to check), we tend to forget one thing: We are entry level or close to entry level workers interviewing with a seasoned professional. They know that we do not have all the experience in the world. They don’t expect us to. That’s why they’re hiring us into an entry level job. If we had more experience, we’d be interviewing to be managers. They just want to hear that we have a basic understanding and passion. If you tell them you’re an expert or you have this huge portfolio to showcase, they know you’re not being honest. Now, you may honestly have experience working on projects. Within internships or project work, or even from another entry level job. And you may honestly know how to do your job perfectly and in the most professional way. But compared to THEM, or compared to what you will be doing there, it’s small fry. So don’t inflate your numbers. Don’t inflate your experience. You mean well, but you’re perceived as a liar. And no one is going to hire a liar. This principle particularly applies to new and young professionals. That’s the reason why you’re not getting a call back. But even if you’re not entry level, you can still apply to concept. You are interviewing for a higher-up position with someone probably much more higher up than you. What you have to tell them may be great – but remember who you’re talking to. Much more important than numbers are commitment and passion. And honesty. This guy didn’t mean to lie, he only meant to use his experience to make himself look good; but he made himself look like a fool – and worse, a liar. A liar in baggy pants and an untugged shirt.

So next time you wonder why you didn’t get the job, ask yourself if you did anything like sweaty guy. Were you confident but humble and honestly excited, or was your agenda to show off? Leave your comments about your experiences and share your wisdom!

Wow! I’ve been quiet for a long time… well, here I am back. Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you started it great! My start was certainly awesome, following the best of all Christmas presents: A new job with my dream company. I now proudly go to work every morning for the Worldwide Television Marketing Department at Warner Brothers and I am wholeheartedly enjoying my job.

I am so happy about this position because I have always, from the start, wanted to work at Warner Brothers. And I appreciate my job because I actually had to fight for it – it did not just fall into my lap. I, myself, took the necessary action in order to get this job. And now I am here.

Let’s be honest: It is extremely difficult these days to find a job you actually like, one that pays you well, or just any job at all. Simply sending out resumes is no longer sufficient. You actually have to get face time with people that SHOULD know you, but don’t know you yet. And that’s really the key. Networking is the most important aspect in your job search.

Here's Your StrategyA good strategy would be to map out the top 10 companies you’d like to work for, map out 10 people in each company that you could realistically get in touch with (not the CEO), and then do just that. How do you find them? I’d start with LinkedIn. Do you already have someone of interest in your network? Look at your 2nd degree connections – can someone introduce you? Does the company have a LinkedIn profile? Follow and find employees there. Then go look at their website and see if names, titles and email addresses are available. Find the companies on Facebook (You might want to be careful with finding the employees on Facebook because it has become the personal online space for friends – versus the professional space on LinkedIn). You CAN, however, follow them on Twitter. Don’t stalk, but engage. Let them see you are actually interested in them and their company.Now that you are connected to them online, you need to create opportunities to meet them face-to-face. Can you find out if they are part of a specific organization? You might want to consider going to their next event! Remember you’re not making these connections to ask for a job, or to immediately get a job. Look at this process as making professional friends. You build your reputation this way, you show interest, and you learn because you are creating a professional space for idea exchanges, instead of a job market. Here are some things you can do to get face time with these people:1. Go to industry mixers2. Attend panels3. Ask for informational interviews4. Ask to go have coffee5. Invite them to YOUR events (How about hosting a panel on campus if you’re still a student?)And the best part is that in the process, you will not only get yourself known within the right circles, but you’ll actually learn about your industry and the types of people within it.What does it actually take?Let me tell you what I did to get this job. I invited one of the recruiters here (that I searched for and found on Facebook) to one of our industry panels my club hosted on campus. Then I went to a career fair because I knew Warner Brothers would be there – and the same recruiter happened to man the booth. So I started talking to her. I stood in line for a half hour to see her and then let her know that I had invited her to the panel and told her about the club that was about her industry. I then friended her on Facebook and liked all possible Warner Brothers Facebook pages. I stayed in touch with her without stalking her. I actually listed to what she had to say and looked up what she was interested in. I then got an informational interview at the CW (a part of Warner Brothers) and let her know about this experience and how great it was. I made sure to let her know when I was looking for an internship and my job right out of college. I responded to all her job postings. When I needed industry advice and had to do a survey for my senior project in school, I asked if I could interview her. I posted about WB myself. I shared WB posts that I thought were great. I let her and the world know that I love Warner Brothers and there’s no place I’d rather be. I did that for over 2 years. That was two years of socializing and networking with just one person. And it finally paid off – she finally gave me a shot. And I will be grateful to her forever. I didn’t just socialize with this one person. I also had my favorite agencies and knew the players there. That’s how I finally got my internship I was trying to get for a year. Now imagine you’re doing this kind of thing with 100 people – or at least as close as you can get to that number. Imagine your chances. Is it a lot of work? You bet. Is it worth it? Totally. I really believe that you will not get the job you really want unless you network, network, network. You might be the one in a million that gets lucky. Congratulations if you’re that one! To all you other mere mortals, take my advice!Oh, the dreaded what-not-to-doNow, on the flip side, you need to watch how you network. Networking does not mean constantly asking for stuff. It especially doesn’t mean to right away, and then constantly, ask for a job. I’ve made that mistake, we all learn and then do better. As I started working here, I changed my workplace info on Facebook, so my friends could see the job change. I also changed it on LinkedIn, of course. From LinkedIn, when it went out as an update, I got a few congrats – from people within my network (one way, by the way, to make yourself known – you sincerely congratulate your network on achievements). On Facebook, a few of my friends (much from within the industry) congratulated me. And then there were those who I had known years ago but had lost touch with. I knew them on Facebook, but I never engaged with them anymore. They were suddenly back. Now that I worked at Warner Brothers, I was suddenly interesting again, or good enough. They didn’t say congrats. They just “happened” to drop in again. No. Guys, THAT is NOT how you network. It’s actually a prime example of how not to network. If you’re going to network, you need to be sincere. Don’t be phony, don’t blatantly make contact because it’s now advantageous to you (people aren’t stupid), don’t make contact with people just for the contact’s sake. Be actually interested.And yes, that’s a skill you need to learn. Socializing right is a skill. And it’s not just a skill you need to GET a job, it’s a skill you need to KEEP a job and to eventually move up the ladder. You need to know how to socialize, how to adjust to a social environment and a culture, and how to do this sincerely. So: As you will need this skill to KEEP a job, you might as well start practicing this as early as possible (when you also still have time to make mistakes). It’s a skill you learn for life and the better you’re at it, the more successful you’ll be.

I will be talking to several hiring professionals in the near future. Some of them work in HR and prescreen candidates, some work in their own specialized departments and hire straight from there.

This is your chance to send me any and all questions you've always wanted to ask them. Ask anything related to resumes, interviewing, and the follow-up process. Your questions will be anonymous to the professionals, so you don't have to worry about asking a "stupid" question. These questions and answers will be included in my materials here for you to have a better experience on my site.

Please leave a comment with your questions. If you think of more later, come back and leave another comment. I hope you all take advantage of this opportunity and you'll learn great insights from it!

This blog attempts to teach you how to apply the new rules of PR and marketing to your job search to successfully land the job you really want. Sometimes, it’s the subtleties about PR that make the difference – and they’re so subtle you barely recognize them as PR when reading these posts. Well, let me shout this one from the rooftops: This post is as PR as it gets! Recently, I’ve seen tons of discussions about how to dress for an interview and how to make the best first impression with what you’re wearing. And unfortunately, I am seeing many really bad posts out there that give blanket advice to an entire country and all industries combined; often written by people who call themselves specialists. I should start by saying that you should never follow blanket advice, particularly not when it comes to dressing for interviews. Let’s review the norm of how to dress for interviews that hopefully everyone has learned: Black, navy or charcoal suit, button-down white shirt, black, close-toed shoes, natural make-up, no perfume, hair styled conservatively, possibly tied back. And generally, if all else fails, these ARE the rules you want to follow. But because we are applying smart PR to our career search, we are smarter than just following blanket advice. We are learning how to customize! So let’s take a closer look at dress code.Fit In... not just your clothes.The way you dress for an interview depends entirely on the industry you work in. If you are applying for a job in banking or pharma – yes, please follow the standards above. These industries are the most formal. If you are applying for a job in a conservative area and you can assume the people working at the company are rather conservative – yes, please follow the rules above more or less. As a general rule, though, you should follow the industry-standard of how to dress ON the job. If the industry as a whole, or the company you’re applying for, dresses casual or very business-casual (as in “jeans”), step it up a notch. I would avoid going to an interview in jeans at pretty much all costs. But follow the rules of the industry, because….PR RULE NUMBER ONE: ASSIMILATE! Study your audience and do what it takes to appeal to that audience. The basis of every PR campaign is lots of research. You learn what your audience members are like, what they like, and what moves them – particularly what moves them to a change in attitude. The attitude change YOU are trying to accomplish is for the interviewer to go to loving you from simply being cognizant of you. So what do you do? YOU FIT IN! We’ve talked about this before: The interview is mainly there to establish if you fit in. You’re already qualified. So show them in every possible way that you know your industry (THEIR industry) and that you know how to fit in, down to dressing right for it. This rule pretty much rules out a black suit and a button-down shirt for A LOT of fields! PR RULE NUMBER TWO: GO WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE! As you are using your PR skills to get the job, they are using their PR skills to get the best hire. They probably don’t know that that’s a PR tactic, but they are doing it nonetheless. So how do you know you are getting the best candidate possible? How do you get the best possible guarantee of a candidate to truly be the best out of the whole pot? Simple: You are hiring someone who is currently employed. There’s a very simple mantra explaining that: If you are currently not employed, you can’t be THAT good, right? Someone would have already snatched you up. Well, we know that’s not necessarily true, but our psyche tells us otherwise. And you can like it or not, you will not change this way of thinking. The Employed Get Hired.As a matter of fact, I was talking to a hiring manager and she said she won’t even interview anyone who is not currently employed. Why? Because the unemployed are desperate to take ANY job and they will tell you anything to get it. She doesn’t trust them. I didn’t agree with her, but that doesn’t matter. So if you are currently unemployed, the trick is, once again: To cater to your audience. If you are currently unemployed, do your best to look like you ARE employed. Don’t lie, but use your PR tactics to make yourself look like you are currently working. There are many facets to this concept; for this purpose we will focus on dress code, since that is the subject of this post. So let’s think for a second of how an employed person goes to an interview.HOW AN EMPLOYED PERSON GOES TO AN INTERVIEWWhen you are employed and you are starting to look for a different job, you will most likely not rub it into your current employers face. So your interviews are either after hours right after your work is over (and the other company is hopefully still open) or you take an extended lunch. (Or you lie and make up a reason for why you can’t come in.) The point is: You don’t have all day to go from looking like you do for work to looking like the perfect interviewee in black suit and perfect hair and makeup. You don’t have two hours in the AM to spend in front of the mirror; you have to get to work. So you will look the way you look to go to work. Well – guess what: That’s what people at that other company also look like! Of course that day, you put on slacks instead of jeans and a nicer shirt instead of your good old cotton. But the point is: You look like you are someone who is employed in the industry. Because you actually ARE! You fit in because you are ALREADY IN! Do these people get hired? YES! All the time! Because employers know they fit in. What do we learn from this novel observation? If you want to make yourself look like you’re currently employed, you literally make yourself LOOK LIKE you’re employed! It’s THAT easy. Dress like you’re going to work. Nicely. You’re not going to be able to SAY that you’re currently employed, but you will LOOK like you are. And that brings you one step closer to fitting in – because you are subconsciously telling them you’re fitting in… without even using one word or your resume. Now, just doing that won’t get you the job… but at least you’re one step closer. And now you always know how to dress without having a meltdown over your wardrobe. Don’t you love PR!?

Alright! Long awaited, here are my top 10 interview busters. Shall we get right to business?Interview Buster #1: Not Knowing the CompanyThis seems to be a no-brainer, but knowing about the company extends beyond knowing who the CEO is. It’s always good to know the history of the company – but honestly, that doesn’t help you. It gives you a nice background on how they got started, and possibly on the company culture. But to answer what you know about the company, you should always focus on current news about the company. On trends in the industry and how the company is addressing them. It is a good idea to weave in good “follow up” questions about the company here and turn this into a conversation. Not knowing the company you’re applying to must be the worst thing to do wrong.Interview Buster #2:Forgetting the Names of Your InterviewersIf someone takes the time to meet with you, to then possibly offer you a job to give you a lot of money, the least you can do is remember their name! If you happen to forget, just don’t mention their names. It’s really easy. You are talking to them, no need to mention their names. Ask for a business card in the end, and the name is right back.Interview Buster #3:Talking SmackDon’t talk badly about your current or former co-workers. Don’t talk badly about your current or former boss. Just don’t say anything negative at all. Keep it positive. If your answer contains a negative element, put a positive spin on it, explain it rationally and end on a high note.Interview Buster #4:Not Asking Any QuestionsIn the end of every interview, the interviewer will ask you if YOU have any questions. Be aware that the interview is not over – this is part of your evaluation. You should always have SOMEthing to ask. During the conversation, all of your burning questions may have been answered, so have your standard questions ready. You should always have some questions. It shows you’re curious, you’re prepared and you have done your research (and have extra questions because of it). Ideally, you want to connect your questions to something about the company to show you’ve done your research. You basically ask follow-up questions to given information. The best advice I have ever received about asking the interviewer questions is to make them about THEM. Ask questions about how you can help THEM. What THEIR idea of the perfect candidate is, and what you can do to improve your work performance there. What can you do to assist them in the best way? What programs/software/techniques should you catch up on? Those kind of questions exhibit the willingness to follow, listen and help… and ultimately show that you care about getting this job.Interview Buster #5:Talking About Personal StuffWhether it’s your kids, your boyfriend, your church service last Sunday, your last frat party… if you can, don’t mention any of it. There are several reasons for not talking about these things. First: It makes you look unprofessional. You’re not at the therapist’s. You’re talking to a professional who is interested in your professional performance.Second: It might eliminate you from candidacy. Maybe they don’t want to hassle with someone who has kids. Maybe they don’t like your religion. They will never tell you because you might sue them, but it is a possibility. Most likely though, they won’t hire you for it because (see “first”) it makes you look unprofessional.Third: It makes you look distracted. Why are you talking about your last frat party when you could use your time telling them why you’re qualified to do this job? Is this how you’ll present the company? How you will talk to clients? To customers?Interview Buster #6: Not Knowing the Proper Answers To QuestionsGranted, there are no cookie cutter answers for most interview questions. But you CAN know the most commonly asked questions and prepare good answers. You CAN learn the concepts of why certain questions are asked and be prepared for them. So make sure that the answers you are giving aren’t just theoretically right, but that they actually reflect the answer expected of that question. Answer the question behind the question, and follow the right pattern.Interview Buster #7:Showing Up LateNot only should you not be late, you should be early. Being just on time is almost as bad as being late. Again, several reasons here.First: Whether you’re just on time or late, you’ll probably be exhausted from rushing to get there on time. You might be sweaty, have to go to the bathroom with no more time, be out of breath… there’s a number of purely visual things that are just off for that oh-so important first impression.Second: If you’re late or just on time, you will have no time to talk to the front desk person. You didn’t know you should be talking to THAT employee? Your interviewers will go to that person after you’re gone and ask them what they think of you. So come a bit early, be natural, be nice, make some pleasant small talk. Show your good energy!Third: If you’re late, you will not be hired for basically certain. If you can’t be at least on time for such an important appointment, you cannot be trusted. Moreover, you show that this is really not all that important to you.Interview Buster #8:Chewing gumYes, there’s a need to really mention this one. Particularly because you’re so concerned about your breath when going to an interview, you put gum in your mouth on your way there… and then you forget to take it out. Make it a point to take out gum before leaving the car… because you might not get a chance anymore after. A better alternative: Use breath mints. They just disappear! Interview Buster #9:Not Bringing Your MaterialsOk, this is not exactly a buster, but it’s certainly a plus to not do this (oh my, there’s a double negative here!).Come prepared with a notepad, a pen and a neat briefcase that contains several copies of your resume, your references and your portfolio. It’s ok to have your questions written down. It’s ok to take notes during the interview. Keep it light – you do want to make sure you maintain eye contact and stay focused. This is a technique, however, that makes you look smart. You know what to do in a meeting. You know how to take notes to remember everything later. Interview Buster #10:Not Connecting With the InterviewerThere are several ways you can connect with your interviewer. If you can’t make a connection, they’re either not going to remember you at all, or they will have a neutral to negative impression of you. So how do you make that connection with a total stranger in a professional way while being nervous, you ask? Good question!Make some light small talk before starting the interview to set the mood light.Keep eye contact, but don’t stare! It’s easier said than done, especially when you have to think about what you’re saying. It’s easy for eyes to wonder.Be interested in your interviewer. Let me say this very clearly: This does not mean flirt with your interviewer! It means ask questions about their career, their career choices, their jobs, how your job would relate to theirs. Everyone likes talking about themselves. Remember to actually be interested in what you’re asking.Give a firm handshake. Don’t hurt them, but do make sure your enthusiasm translates into your handshake.Keep a smile on your face and keep it natural. Don’t make forced conversation, don’t be nervous. Don’t keep rambling. Be yourself – just be the best version of yourself. With a smile on your face and a sparkle in your eyes!

Ok, I said I'd have a post about the top 10 interview busters next, but I'll have a little intermission in between busters - it IS, however, about at least ONE interview buster. It's about how to answer one of the more difficult questions well: What are your weaknesses?

It's a tough one to answer because it almost just asks for a lie. Why would you ever give away your TRUE weaknesses, right? They'll get you disqualified! So professors and coaches tell you to come up with weaknesses you can either turn into a strength, or weaknesses that have nothing to do with job performance. That’s one way, I suppose. That’s been my strategy so far. Well, here's a bit of a different take I have after talking to the marketing manager at King's Hawaiian, responsible for hiring there.A Look At Interviewers First of all, let’s just look at hiring managers for a minute. Who are they? Well, at the most basic level, they are people. Not machines. They are people with a personality, with strengths and weaknesses themselves. People who are able to see you, look at you, evaluate your personality, your reactions, your tone of voice. At a little bit more advanced level, they are people who are trained to look at you and evaluate you professionally, as it related to the job you’re applying for and the company. And most importantly, they are people who once were on the other side of the table themselves. They are people who know very well that you do have real weaknesses, no matter what answer you give them. When they choose to ask the question “What are your weaknesses,” they ask it for a reason – whatever reason that may be. They know the ways answers can go – they are trained to read answers between the lines. They once thought about how to answer it themselves. So how do you answer this question then to satisfy them? Most Important Is Cultural Fit, Weaknesses or NotLet me interject another thought here that will make the evaluation of how to answer “What are your weaknesses” a bit more clear. As I was talking to the King’s Hawaiian lady, I asked her what the most important thing was that she looks for in a candidate. She didn’t say their references, their job history, or even their degree or achievements. She said, without having to think twice, “Cultural fit.” So personality is the most important thing you can show during an interview. She said that you can be as qualified as you want, with the most stellar references, work history and track record – if your personality doesn’t fit into the company, you will not be hired. Hm, let’s think about this for a minute. I am writing this blog mostly for people in or right out of college – but it really applies to everyone across the board that currently has no job they want to keep for the rest of their lives, or that just have no job at all. We are so focused on just getting a job that we often overlook the most important thing: Do I actually fit within this company? Am I actually going to be happy going to work with these people every day? Am I going to dread getting up every morning to be at a place I hate for 8+ hours every day? I understand the need to have a job, and any job will do if you otherwise have to live on the street. Unfortunately, companies don’t look at it that way. Especially right now, they get to choose the perfect candidate, so you might as well go with it and FIND that company that’s a great fit for you. And then that’s it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: They have seen your resume, they already think you’re qualified. The interview is mostly not to show them you’re qualified, but to show them that you would fit in. And that’s exactly what NAME was saying. So as long as you show your true personality, you will be happy at work if hired because you know they are going to be like-minded.How I Got Fired Because My Strength Was Their Weakness For example, I worked at a non-profit for 3 weeks before I was fired. Why was I fired? Because my personality was more bubbly than I admitted to in the interviews. My work style was much faster than they wanted. My get-it-done attitude was not appreciated. Are these good qualities? I think so! But they fired me! What did they tell me when they fired me? They said: “Your work is great, you have really good ideas… but you’re just not the right personality fit.” That was that, nothing I could do. So I moved on to an agency, where there’s a corporate, young and progressive-minded culture; it is a place where work is fast and projects get done yesterday. And I love it. Absolutely love it and fit in perfectly. My work experience was exactly the same for both jobs – but the culture was quite different. I liked going to work at the non-profit. I LOVE going to work at the agency. And another point you can take away from this: What you list as your strengths - might not be attractive to your interviewer. And what you view as your weakness might constitute the perfect fit! Just think about THAT! This experience has shifted my thinking from “having to find ANY job” to “really wanting to find the RIGHT job.” Why? Because if you don’t find the RIGHT job, you’re not going to last. It’s that simple. (And if you somehow manage to last, you’ll hate it.) And then you’ll have to keep starting all over again and again. Until you learn that cultural fit truly is the most important thing in a hiring decision. These are the people you will spend more time with than you do with your family – it HAS to be a good fit. So What's The Best Answer?With this in mind, let’s get back to my original point. What does this little excursion here have to do with the question “What are your weaknesses?” Well, my point sort of is: It doesn’t really matter. My best guess is that they simply want to see if you’re honest. If your nature is genuine. How do you sound when confronted with an uncomfortable question or situation? Again: They KNOW you’re not perfect. They KNOW you have real weaknesses that put you at a disadvantage. Just like everyone else in the world does, too. The point is: Do you know what they actually are? Because if you know what they are, you can do something about them! THAT’s the positive spin! Don’t come up with a weakness that’s really a strength. “I work too hard. Haha, I guess that’s a good weakness to have!” Bullshit. You’re out! You apparently don’t even know what “weakness” means. Here’s a weakness: “I know this isn’t good – but I tend to arrive late. It’s not that I don’t organize my time well, I do get everything done… I’ll just stay late. And I’m not hours late, but I somehow have a hard time getting out of the 15-minutes late thing. I AM working on it and I have gotten much better at being on time and I make it a point to pay attention to timing.” THAT’s a real weakness. Did you just expose yourself? Absolutely. But if that really is your weakness, then you WILL be late for work. Here is what King’s Hawaiian marketing manager said: “If this truly is your weakness, I want you to tell me that. Because maybe the position has flex hours, and then it would be perfect for you. Now, it might disqualify you from a position where you just have to be on time precisely, but then they’d notice you being late soon enough, wouldn’t they?” And that takes us back full circle to the fit. You want to get a job you will keep. So when they ask you about your weaknesses, they want to make sure they’re not in the way of you doing your job. Because they WILL fire you when it comes out and it’s a real barrier to you doing your job well. If your weakness doesn’t matter or can be worked in (such as you’ll be on flex hours anyway), it solidifies your fit. AND they know you’re honest and you know yourself. So be truly honest with your weaknesses. If they can see you know yourself, it proves your sound character and your maturity. It also lets them evaluate if you’re a good fit. And if you are a good fit, you will get the job, despite of your weaknesses. Because everyone has weaknesses. EVERYONE does, you don’t have to hide them. You just need to be someone with the “right” weaknesses for the job. If your weakness is that you can’t lift anything over 10 pounds but you will have to frequently move furniture – guess what. You’re not going to keep that job. So you might as well admit to it from the start. It can only make you stronger. And if it doesn’t make you stronger, you weren’t the right fit anyway.

I've been reading a lot lately on what not to do when going through the resume-sending process. So I decided to assemble a TOP 10 List of what not to do when trying to stand out with your resume. You're trying hard and you're trying to be smart about it, but you might be making these common mistakes, because it's very easy to make them. This post will be followed by a TOP 10 List of what not to do when interviewing - and follow the same principle.

So here is the most effective way to get yourself NO interview (So do NOT do these :) )

Seriously guys, it's truly easy to do this stuff and I even admit to being guilty of some of these myself. So read and follow!

Resume Buster #1Applying to jobs@blackholeofdeath.com The most common problem is having to send blind applications. You saw a posting that looks good, you're applying for it. And if you are currently desperate: You saw a posting that didn't even look so good, but was a posting anyway, and you're applying for it. Where do most blind resumes go? To jobs or resumes or recruiter@blackholeofdeath.com. When you do this, your application might be perfect, and it will still never be seen because hundreds of applications come to that one email address.

How to fix thisFind someone who works at this company. Search your network. Search your social media. Ask your professors. Find SOMEone, ANYone, who works at this company. Ask that person to forward your resume. Also, or secondly, find recruiters that target the industry you want to be in. Recruiters have relationships with HR people and if they want your resume to be on top, they can make that happen.

Resume Buster #2Not following precise instructionsYou think you have it all figured out. Your resume looks awesome, your cover letter fits its purpose, your supporting materials support your resume and match the objective and overall, your package is just perfect. And you still didn't get a call. Why? It might be as simple as not following a tiny part of their instructions. They wanted the resume in a .doc format and you sent a .docx. And you're out. There is an option for attachments, but the ad did not ask for any. Should you send supporting materials? Probably not. Yes, it'll make you look better in theory; but practically, you didn't follow instructions. WHAT? Yes! You are going up for an internship or an entry level position - you MUST be able to follow instructions precisely. This might be a way for them to weed out candidates from the very start.

How to fix thisSee, this fix is very easy. Just follow the instructions! To the dot on the i and the cross of the t. Even if your version is better/looks better/represents you better... that doesn't matter if your resume is not even looked at, does it?

Resume Buster #3Bad spellingI know I've said this plenty of times, and I will say it again: You can absolutely not afford to have typos on your resume and cover letter. Spelling mistakes are inexcusable. Period. Apparently, bad grammar gets a bit more leeway because they know they're dealing with entry-level or before-entry-level candidates and you're not quite expected to be perfect. But bad spelling is an absolute no-no. (And if I was you, I'd rather be perfect on the grammar as well. Being on the safe side and going the extra mile usually pays off, especially if you happen to look for a job in the communications field.)

How to fix thisHave a friend read over it (make sure that friend is VERY good at writing and proof-reading). Better yet: Have a professor read over it. Even better: Have your career center look over it. Even better than better: Have a career coach or HR professional (that your know) read over it. Do not send it off, no matter how time-sensitive, unless you are absolutely sure that there are no more mistakes on your documents.

Resume Buster #4Impersonal applicationsDon't you think it's a lot of work to write a personalized application? (If your answer is no - then, trust me, you're not doing it right.) Here is how my story goes: I find a posting that sounds interesting and I start researching the company. I make sure it is what I thought it was, it is within my field and expertise, it does what I want it to do, it has a reputation. I do basic research for at least two to three hours before even getting started on the cover letter. I research until I have a good hook for that cover letter and I can give them a real reason for why I want to work there.

And then I start from scratch and it probably takes me another good two hours to write the letter. Yes, I have a general outline. My first paragraph, my second paragraph, my third, forth and fifth paragraph always follow the same mantra; but they are always personalized to that company in that industry and written in their tone. And it is extremely important you learn how to do this.

Then I start editing it and revising it and cutting it - because surely enough, I had so much to say (come on, I pitch for a living) that it goes beyond that one page. So I spend another two hours editing. Then I have my boyfriend read over it. If it is especially critical and I REALLY want the job, I send it off to my mentors and have them read over it as well. Only when I am absolutely sure it's perfect, will I submit it.

Lather, rinse, repeat with the resume. Did I use all the right terms? Is it customized enough? Do my titles and my experience reflect what they're actually looking for? And another two to three hours go over to adjust my resume. And yes, you should adjust your resume with every single application you send. So now I just spend an entire day on ONE application. And this is why you need to choose wisely where you apply to and make those applications really count by doing it right.

How to fix thisHR people know when you're genuinely excited about a job and a company - or if you sent an application where you merely filled in a few blanks. Please do not think you can fool them or get by because your history seems so perfect for what they're looking for. They are doing this for a living, and they get hundreds of applications with perfect histories. It's an important sales strategy to learn that will benefit you for the rest of your life: Think like your audience. Put yourself in their shoes: If you were to read this application from a complete stranger - would you be interested in finding out more about this person? So you fix this blunder by thinking like your audience - by making this application as personal and targeted and appealing as you can possibly make it. You simply have to invest the time.

Resume Buster #5Wrong Price TagNot every job ad will ask for salary requirements, but some do. I've been in interviews where the first question was what my salary requirements were. There are several trains of thought about this one.

The first: Ballpark them high. It shows that you know you're worth it.The second: Ballpark them low so you're more likely to be hired because you will cost them less.The third: Keep it "open" so the ball is in their courts.The fourth: Give them a range, so the ball is kind of in their court, but you have your hand in it.

Ok, everyone, quick! Get out your scantron and your number 2 pencil - this is a multiple choice test! Seriously, here are my thoughts on this one: They ask for a salary requirement because yes, they want to know if you know what you're worth. BUT they want to know if you know this within the industry standard. If you ask for too much (the first train of thought), they'll think you're crazy and maybe just a bit too full of yourself (you're applying for entry level here, not a senior vice president position). If you ask for too little (the second train of thought), they'll think you don't know what you're doing and are hoping to get hired by keeping their costs low. Keeping it open works for college jobs where their salary is the same for all employees, no matter what (your typical minimum-wage jobs) - not for a professional position. They want to know - and I think this is key - that you have done your research and you know what the current pay rate for this job in this economy in this industry in this city is. It is really an easy way to show diligence. A source I like to use for this is www.glassdoor.com/salaries.

How to fix thisDo your research. Know what you're applying for and have a general idea what this position should pay you. As a general rule of thumb, I would use the range approach, but use a reasonable range. For an internship in the communications field, for example, I expect an $8-12 per hour rate - and if I get $10, I'm happy. For an entry level position, I expect $16-20 per hour, and if I get $18, I'm happy. Now, if you apply for a programmer position at Google, you should ask for $6000 a month as an intern. I do not know what professional programmers do earn or should earn and honestly, I don't want to look it up because I'll just be jealous. But the point is: Know these things! It's an easy way to show you're diligent and passionate to know everything you can about your industry of choice.

Resume Buster #6Too long, didn't readSome industries do want you to have a loooong resume. If you're applying to be an educator, please have a 6-page resume. If you are 10 years into your job within your industry, please feel free to have a two-pager. If you're applying to be an intern or an entry- level pretty much anywhere, please keep it to a page. Give them supporting materials if they ask, but keep your resume to one page. Keep especially your cover letter to a page. Once again: Think like your audience. Is it really necessary to put on this last job where you had the same position you already had for those last three jobs mentioned? Your audience will get bored looking at it. Is your cover letter really worth two pages? Are you THAT special? You think the one to two people that work in HR really want to read a 2-page cover letter from 300 applicants? They will probably barely read yours if it's one page. They might read the first two paragraphs. So please do use the pyramid format and make those first paragraphs count!

How to fix thisKnow proper application etiquette and follow it. Your resume and your cover letter are one page long. The general theme always is: Cut, condense, leave out. If it is not absolutely vital to mention it - cut it or leave it out. If you're saying the same thing twice, or you're saying two similar things twice: Cut or condense. Be very precise. You do want to say applicable and smart things - but you want to say them quickly. You can elaborate when you get your interview.

Resume Buster #7Too generalI am not talking about using templates here. I am talking about a resume that focuses on general tasks while it is filled with empty words. You had a position where you answered phones, you directed email, you organized files and you arranged travel plans. Yes, please do put that on. Especially when applying for entry level jobs and internships, those are important things to know and I do believe you should share that you know how to do these things. Be as specific as you can be, though, with these skills. What gives you a further edge is when you can connect them to an accomplishment. This one is tricky. You really have to search your brain for this one. But it'll be worth it. Now, some specialists say you should ONLY put your accomplishments on - no duties at all. I do not agree with that. Especially when applying for an entry-level job, you really need to show that you can do the job. You have to show them that you're detail-oriented and organized and you show that by telling them that you've done it all. Now: If you can connect those job duties to an accomplishment - THAT would be ideal and then I agree with it.

How to fix thisFirst of all: You personalize your resume, you always always do. Use the words they use. Leave off what they're not asking. If it's not related, then no one cares. It might be a great wonderful job you had and you learned so much - but it's not applicable... and now you just lost them. "Then she should go work there" is what they will probably think.Second: You make your resume very specific. Don't say that you performed general office duties. Actually say what they were (unless your job was not really an office job and the "general office duties" were merely a tag-on to your actual job duties). Connect your duties to your title. Do the duties match the title and do they make sense for the position?Third: Talking about the position: Be specific with your title. You were an intern somewhere. That's great. Specify what intern you were, so they'll get a better idea of who you are and what you're capable of just by giving the resume a glance (remember the 3-second rule).

Resume Buster #8Too specificYes, after I am telling you that you can be too general, I am now telling you that you can also be too specific. And this really is a fine line to walk and you might want to get help with this. You know you're supposed to use the words they use in the job description of the ad. That's great! You're supposed to do that. Especially when sending an application online, an automatic resume robot will weed out applications that don't use those words. But if your resume is too full with them, you might just look unbelievable. If there is nothing on your resume but their words, you might just look too good to be true.

How to fix thisDo keep your personality to the resume. Try to determine what the most important skills are they are looking for. If you know your industry, you generally know what's expected. Put those skills on your resume and use their words for those. Here is an example: Do they ask for media or press relations? It's the same thing, but use the word they're using for it. Do keep related skills on there that they didn't ask for but that are applicable to the job in general, just to make your resume look "normal." To stay with the example: If they ask for press relations with this and this and this and that and the other outlet or department, you might just want to say "press relations with various mainstream media outlets" instead of copying and pasting verbatim. Be smart about it. This is a skill that can be trained and that can be learned. And it does involve some trial and error. Keep your resume looking normal, like you actually wrote it. Do use their buzz words, but use the right ones, and don't ONLY use them.

Resume Buster #9Not current languageMany recruiters say that resumes are often full of stilted, old-fashioned phrases that have lost their meaning. For example, one recruiter says that she hates the phrase "proven ability to..." What proves this ability? And what makes it better than the unproven ones? Another one she hates is "utilized my skills doing..." Of course you utilized your skills. Who else's would you use? How else would you do it? Just say what you did. "Results-oriented" and "hard worker" are a few more phrases that are out. It is assumed that you work toward results and that you will invest your all into it.

How to fix thisIf you want to mention these phrases, do it in the cover letter, not your resume, and connect them with a specific example of how you did go beyond expectations to make a point. Everyone can say they're a hard worker. Prove it. Everyone can say they have a proven ability. Rather, tell them about how you applied your abilities and use the Situation-Action-Results model. You won't have to say you're results-oriented. Showing how and that you reached your goal says it so much better. Think critically about the words you use and try to see if you can make it more precise. Just say it as it is. We're in the 21st century, people have no time. Make every word count.

Resume Buster #10Bad ObjectiveFrom the start, I am not a fan of objectives. I think they're a waste of space. You apply for a job - your objective is to get the job. Or A job, any job. They know that. Now, apart from being a waste of space, an objective can actually be your downfall. Especially when you're not perfectly familiar with your industry yet because you haven't worked in it for 10 years, you might think a job is about something specific. But when you start working, you'll discover that it's really quite different than you thought it would be. Now imagine you put what you THINK it will be in your objective when that's really not at all what the job is about... you just disqualified yourself because you told them you're really looking for a different job.

How to fix thisLeave off your objective. I know that some professor or some book told you at some point to have an objective on your resume and then you just rolled with it, not thinking about why this objective is actually on there. Use some common sense! Jump into the 21st century! An objective might be necessary when you're applying to a company without an open position (and I advise against that for a reason to be discussed at another time). But even then they know: You're sending a resume because you want a job. They see what you're experienced with, so they'll know where to place you. Seriously: Why do you need an objective? Do you think they're too stupid to determine where you should be? The time you spend on your job search is valuable, so be sure to use it wisely. Invest additional time and effort on applications for jobs that you feel are a great fit, and go above and beyond to be sure your submission gets attention. Getting a job today is not easy and you should use every resource at your disposal. And if you need help, you can always ask me.

I have to start this entry by saying how sad it is that so many people (in particular students) think they know what they're doing when it comes to interviewing and the job-finding process in general, but they really don't. And you might be reading this right now thinking: "Well, thank God that's not me!" - but the truth is that it might JUST be YOU... because... well, because you are one of those who think they know what they're doing... when you really don't.

And the critical question now is: How do I know which side I am on? Well, doing your research right, learning as much as you can before you send in that resume, before you go into that interview, before accepting that job, is critical. And that's why you're reading this - because you want to learn. Good!

A Real-Life Example to Make My PointLet's look at some questions and right and wrong answers.As so often, I want to drive my point home with a practical story I experienced last week. In my current position, I work closely with the person that interviewed me and was mainly responsible for hiring me. From the start, I got along with him very well, which, of course, never hurts. So every so often, we have our two-minute water cooler talks. About a week ago, he told me he needed to shift our meeting because he had to go do an interview. So after he got back from it, I initiated one of those water cooler minutes and asked him how it went. His response didn't need any words - his facial expression said it all. (It was not very positive). So I thought this would be a good moment to reveal that I blog about this sort of stuff and, in turn, interview him about mistakes this person obviously made and how to avoid them.

Well, it turns out that the girl he interviewed for an internship already had had a telephone interview with him before coming in. During that interview, she seemed quite smart and she was told what the main account was she would be working on (this is for a large PR agency). So now that she came in, he asked her some follow-up questions, and she was dumb-founded. I will now list some of the questions and her answers and hope that this will teach you the very valuable lesson of DOING YOUR RESEARCH!

Question 1: You will be working on one account mainly, but you'll also have your time split over nine other major accounts. Do you think you'll be comfortable doing that?(Editor's Note: When you work at a big PR agency, it is normal that you work on several accounts simultaneously. PR agencies are very busy.)

Her answer: "Oh... I don't know. I've worked in-house before, so I've only worked on just that one product."

Right answer: "Well, I've worked in-house before. So even though that would be equal to only one client, they did have several project going on and I helped with many of them. So I'm excited to switch to agency now and learn about this new aspect of working on several clients. But I do think I am well equipped to handle it and I am a fast learner and highly organized.

Lesson learned: If you don't have the exact skills needed, you think of a transferable skill. You also never say no! Never. Just don't.

Question 2: You know that this is a full-time internship, so you'll work 40 hours a week, from about 9-5:30, including lunch, Monday through Friday. Does that sound like a schedule you can handle?

Her answer: Yes, that's fine. But I do want to say that I come from North Orange County, so I may not be on time every day. (Editor's note: Anything in North Orange county is about 30 miles removed from this office and you do have to take a horribly backed-up freeway during rush hour.)

Right answer: Yes, that's fine.

Lesson learned: Never - again, I repeat NEVER, volunteer negative information. Especially not if that information makes you sound like a slacker, uncoordinated, unorganized, or simply careless. In most entry-level jobs, these qualities are absolutely essential. If you already know you'll have a tough commute, you just get up a half hour earlier. Worst case scenario: You get to work half an hour early. You are not late for an interview; just the same, you are not late for work. Every so often that will happen for reasons outside your control (like an accident that closes the whole freeway and you're literally stuck) - but you never suggest that this might be an ongoing thing for no reason other than you not getting up on time.

Lesson learned: Less is more. Do not ramble. Do not answer questions that weren't asked, unless you have something really good to say. Remember: No one asked "Were you ever late for work?" Or "Do you think you might be late for work?" The question was: Does this sound like a schedule you can handle? It's a yes or no answer. And this is something you know in advance. If your answer to it is no, you shouldn't be wasting anyone's time by coming to the interview in the first place. Find something closer to home. And by the way: If they did ask if you thought you might be late for work, your answer is: "No, of course not. I know I'll have a tough commute on the 5 and I already tested out how long it takes me to get here, so I know when I have to leave my house to make it." Period. -See now, you've volunteered a wholly positive detail that made you look prepared and showed you're thinking ahead.

Question 3: As we have discussed on the phone, the main account you'll work on is the XYZ Project. What do you know about this project? How do you feel about it?

Her answer: Oh, I don't know, I haven't worked on it yet, so I'm not familiar with the project.

Right answer: Well, this answer should be as long as your answer makes business-sense and you can speak intelligently about this project and what you've learned during your research. And this is a good time to also throw in intelligent questions about this project, as far as your work on it is concerned, for example.

Lesson learned: When they give you a freebee and already tell you in advance exactly what it is that you'll be working on - you research it! To death! Until you can't find any more information on it. And during the interview, you might even find a way to volunteer that information to show initiative, before you're even asked about it. This is where the research part comes in. They won't hire you because you're pretty. They'll hire you because they think you're intelligent and you can handle the job and are prepared.

Needless to say that the girl did not get the internship. And I was a bit embarrassed, because she graduated from the same school and the same program I graduated from. And I was just really wondering why you would give answers like that... and I came to the conclusion that it is because people just talk too much (We're nervous in interviews) ... or are too honest (Yes, you will be late for work. They know that. Everyone is every so often. But you just don't say that!) ... or just don't think their answers through, and don't consider all possible consequences. It's not because they're stupid, it's because they weren't prepped.

Help Me To Help You!So the key is to do your research and learn as much as you can. Not just about the company you're interviewing for, but about interviewing and this whole process of getting a job in general. At this point, I would like to ask you for your opinion: What is it that YOU would like to learn more about? What do you think might be your biggest deficiency and you just don't know where to turn for it? What have you researched and just haven't found satisfying answers, or what you found simply didn't work? Please let me know! Email me directly at anne.pelczar AT yahoo DOT com or leave a comment. I want to help!

Oh my goodness, it's graduation season! And according to the US Census Bureau, 3.4 million students just threw their caps in the air, went home and started writing job applications. Oh my! Now, I couldn't find a number for how many jobs are actually available... but I'm going to take a pretty good guess and venture to say that it's not 3.4 million. So the question is: What makes you stand out to get one of those coveted available interviews?

Is there a simple answer? Oh no. I've tried all kinds of approaches writing my I-don't-even-know-how-many applications. But here's a thought that ran through my mind - a pattern I noticed in my own application adventure.

First of all: Always write a cover letter. Always. Even when they don't ask for it. Even when it's optional. That's how they weed out folks (who actually goes the extra mile and puts in the effort).

Next: Make the cover letter count. Don't just repeat your resume. Make your work stand out. Give them quantifiable numbers of the work you've done and the impact it had. That's impressive. If you don't have those numbers, get them!

Third: Use the words they use in their job description, especially when applying through a website. They have machines that look for these words. If they're not there, you won't be selected.

Fourth: Make the cover letter personal. Not as in unprofessional-talking-to-your-friend personal. But customize your cover letters. Yes, it's a lot of work because it actually requires you to do some research before you can write an intelligent cover letter. BUT then good news are: 1) If you get an interview, you have to do the research anyway and you'll already be half-way done. 2) When you do your research, you can see what the company is about and figure out if you really would be happy working there or if you're really qualified to work there. (As in: Are you just wasting time sending this application because your experience really doesn't match this field at all?) 3) You will realize if you're really excited about working there.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: BE GENUINELY EXCITED!This last point (#3) really is THE KEY. I've taken several approaches to writing cover letters and I got most answers to applications where I could be genuinely excited in my cover letter. Not just SOUND excited, actually BE excited. They can tell if you're bullshitting them. If you're trying to find a reason for why you want to work there just so you have something good to say about the company and how it connects to your professional aspirations - they will be able to tell. I've done it just to say something... and I knew it wasn't good. And I never heard from them. If you're honestly excited about this job and the company - they will be able to tell!

GET AN A FOR EXCELLENCE, NOT FOR EFFORT!The best cover letters are like the essays you wrote and you just knew you'd get an A because you just knew you nailed it! Why? Because you actually wanted to write it, you were on a roll and you actually knew what the heck you were talking about. The essays were you somehow had to scramble to fill your required pages didn't earn you As, did they?

SO START OUT TALKING ABOUT THE COMPANY. Don't just say: "I would love to be a part of your team because you are a leader in the industry and I want to work for the best." It's not really bull, but it's whatever. Who doesn't? You need to be able to tell them that you love what they're doing, and here is exactly how I understand what it is that you're doing and I would just be so excited to be part of you team, and here is how my experience directly parallels your job requirements. And maybe here is some trivia I dug up on you and here is how it fits in why I am excited about your product. Not only did you show that you are excited about them, you showed them that you understand what they are about and what they want from you. You showed them, moreover, that you understand how you can get the job done, because you've done it before.

So you started by "smooching" them. It's a common PR tactic used when pitching to the media. If you want something from them, you first tell them how great they are. Everyone likes to hear that. But don't say something just for the sake of saying it. Say something with substance that directly applies to them, shows them you actually researched them, and really has meaning. NOW they're listening. Now they might read on about what you have to say about yourself. And NOW you might be invited to an interview.

FAIL-SAFE FOR ME: The cover letters I was excited about writing got me a response. The jobs I really cared about have made great cover letters. Naturally. And most of them invited me to an interview. The same day!! The rest were a shot in the dark. Not necessarily a waste of time, because I suppose, sometimes you even hit something in the dark, but certainly nothing to get your hopes up about.

HERE'S A SHOCKER:Here's a job I applied for: - part-time - 3-months contract work- PR assistant position - at an undisclosed agency - didn't even pay a living wage (which is $16/hour) - through career builder, no personal referenceThe nice thing about career builder: It gives you stats on the posting after you apply. After the posting was one day old, they had 26 applications in for this position. For this entry-level, part-time, limited engagement gig, most of those 26 applicants had 5-9 years experience. And this wasn't even a "good gig!"How do true entry-level applicants compete?! Well, my personal answer was "not" - unless those 25-and-counting other applicants were all morons that didn't have applicable work experience. Chances are they're not. Chances are I won't hear back from them. Because if you send a resume to an undisclosed company, there's not much research you can do. And then your work experience better be outstanding, long, and right on to have an edge in the application process. So I sent my application - but this was one I wasn't going to spend much time on, it would be a waste of time. It's a shot, but a long one. Spend your time on jobs you truly care about for companies that inspire you and that you really would stand behind 100%. Those are your best bets.

Get enthusiastic - and right on top of that height of enthusiasm for this great company you just found - that's the time to write the cover letter! And watch yourself getting a response! Good luck y'all - and congratulations on graduating! Now don't be discouraged - it's all good, as long as you're smart about getting that first job!

So you did write that winning resume and cover letter, you networked your way into an organization, you did get the interview, you went, it went great, and now you're back home. First of all: Congratulations! You're ahead of about 95% of your competition! Now what do you?

Most of us know that interviewees are supposed to send a thank you note. Back until not too long ago, these were supposed to be handwritten note cards, ideally pre-written and dropped off at the front desk as you left the interview. I always thought that was insincere... how can you say anything if you've written it before the interview even happened? But no matter, we don't do that anymore. After listening to interviewer after interviewer after coach after specialist, these days, thank you emails are widely accepted and often even preferred.

Another thought to consider might be that if they really want you, they'll hire you even if you don't send that thank you email. But why would you risk hurting yourself by not sending it? You show you know etiquette and have proper manners - It can only be beneficial to you.... you'd think. So let's make sure this follow-up email you sendACTUALLY WILL BE BENEFICIAL!

WHAT NOT TO DOWhy don't I start with an example of what NOT to do. A few days ago, I was at my favorite coffee shop and I am standing in line to order my coffee... And as I am standing there waiting, there are two men sitting next to me at a table. One of them looks at his phone and says the to the other: "Oh man! Listen to this! I interviewed this guy last week, and here's the email he just sent me." At this point, he lets out a little chuckle. "I just wanted to follow up on whether did I met thequalifications of the opened position?"This is not a drill. This really happened! Ok... I HAD to jump in and ask what that person was interviewing for. Turns out he interviewed at a small, privately-owned furniture design store in Long Beach, called 'Trebor Nevets' to be a graphic designer. This business designs custom, new and vintage furniture as well as fine art. Do graphic designers there (or anywhere) have to write? Not so much. If they write, does it ever go out to the public? Not so much. Did the owner still want him to be able to write intelligently? Yes, sir! And mind you - this is a small business. If even the small ones care about this so much, what do you think the reaction will be at big corporations where your competition is even steeper?

NOW HERE'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT: After the man was done quoting the email, he laughed and said: "Well, THAT just disqualified him. I mean, he was a nice guy and we had a good talk, but this did it."

So... I honestly don't even know where to start. There are so many things wrong with this note. So let's start with the very basic:A) YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO WRITE!!!Unless you're a math or accounting major and you're a genius at numbers and that's what you do all day long in the back of a store while never facing any other human being, you better know basic writing! I can absolutely not stress that enough! I know your professors tell you all the time and you don't listen. START LISTENING! If you can't see anything wrong with the note this interviewee sent to Mr. Sarinana, then you're in deep shit and should probably reconsider graduating and taking some basic writing classes first. Seriously!

Let's assume you CAN see at least some of the things wrong with it and you DO have basic (and hopefully advanced) knowledge of grammar and spelling. Let's remember that this is not the time to get lazy. You put all this work in your resume and cover letter and preparing for an interview... you can spend 10 more minutes on a thank you note. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO GET LAZY!Your interview may have went outstanding. You can still ruin it - remember, you're not yet hired! A little thing such as a bad thank you note may ruin it for you! If your interview did not go so hot, you still write that note. Who knows - your perception might be wrong and they really did like you. If nothing else, you still show them that you follow protocol and you are polite. So what do we do?B) YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TO ACTUALLY PUT IN THAT NOTE#1: WE LEARN TO SAY THANK YOUYou say thank you every time you get a present, right? How much more valuable is getting an interview? So we learn how to write one sentence properly:Here it is (copy and paste if you have to): "Thank you so much for meeting with me this morning to talk about your open position as BLANK. It was a pleasure meeting you and I am honored you are considering me to work with you."Proofread your note before sending! Then proofread it again. Pay attention to the details! If you are weak at writing, have someone proofread that note for you. Do not send it off before being sure that it is free of mistakes. If you are the worst writer and have no one to proofread, end with this statement. Put your name under it and send.

#2: WE LEARN WHAT TO WRITE IN A THANK YOU NOTEA thank you note consists of three basic paragraphs.First paragraph: You say thank you and show appreciation! (That's kind of the whole point.) See #1 for directions.Second paragraph: You reiterate shortly your qualifications based on the interview (where you hopefully asked what qualities they are looking for in the perfect candidate) and repeat why you would be that perfect candidate.Third paragraph: You tell them very quickly why you want to work at THIS company, and look forward to hearing back from them soon.That's it.

#3: WE USE THEIR TONEHow did they talk to you during the interview? Was it really relaxed? Was everyone very formal? Did they wear suits or jeans? Did they sit upright or lounge in their chairs? Did they joke around or were they serious? Were they high-ranking executives or entry-level personnel? Reflect that tone and hit it right. Don't crack a joke, don't be sarcastic... it can't be read properly in a written document. But do keep that tone in mind when you address them (first name or last name?), when you end (Sincerely yours, or All my best), when you write all in between (should you strike a casual or formal tone? What examples would be appropriate to bring up?).C) YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT NOT TO PUT IN THAT NOTE#1: The thank you note is NOT the time to ask if you're qualified.I hate calling someone a moron... but dude... you just went through an interview! You think they like wasting their time on interviewing people they don't consider qualified? Guess what: If you get an interview, you're qualified! Now is the time to be confident! This is the time to tell them: Good choice! Here is exactly why I am qualified, you won't regret hiring me! If you send a note full of mistakes... guess what: You are disqualifying yourself!

#2: It is also NOT the time to be long or elaborate. Do you know how many emails executives get every hour? They don't want to read an essay about you. If you told them you'll get back to them with an answer about a question they had, you put it there as shortly as you can. If you didn't get to talk about something you really wanted to mention and it is vital to mention this, you do it here, but you do it as brief as humanly possible! Keep it short, short, short! Pyramid style: Most important first!

#3: It is lastly NOT the time to make mistakes.Remember in writing, the most important thing is the beginning and the end of your paragraph. Everything in between, the reader skims over. Same in the interviewing process. You start out strong with cover letter and resume and you finish strong with that thank you note. There is no room to get lazy! It literally takes 10 minutes to write that note - finish strong! And do finish. Do write that note and make sure it is perfect. Writing a note like the person in my example above is simply unacceptable and will most certainly disqualify you. How are you a convincing professional if you can't even write one simple sentence right? Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes. Would you invest a lot of money into someone who will represent your company this way?

D) YOU LATHER, RINSE AND REPEAT AS NEEDEDIf you get a second interview, you DO the same thing again - but make sure to not WRITE the same thing again! Now you customize your note to that second interview. You're still honored, you're even more excited, you reiterate a strength not mentioned the first time around (now even shorter or you may leave it out altogether), you thank them again, you close. You do it every time you interview, with everyone you interview with! Make sure you customize every note for everyone you talk to - they may compare them! If it's the lowest level-bottom-of-the-food-chain-person in the company you talk to - you show the same respect you show to the CEO! You are just as grateful and appreciative to them. It won't go unnoticed.